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Stephanus of Alexandria

January 01, 1970

Stephanus of Alexandria[a] (Greek: Στέφανος Αλεξανδρεύς; fl. c. 580 – c. 640) was a Byzantine philosopher and teacher who, besides philosophy in the Neo-Platonic tradition, also wrote on alchemy, astrology and astronomy. He was one of the last exponents of the Alexandrian academic tradition before the Islamic conquest of Egypt.[1]

Life edit

Stephanus studied at Alexandria, probably under Elias. He is often named alongside Elias and David as among the Christians of the school of Olympiodorus. According to John Moschus, he was teaching and writing commentaries in Alexandria in the 580s, where he was involved in the controversy over Monophysitism, apparently taking positions on both sides. John calls him a "sophist and philosopher".[1]

Shortly after the accession of the Emperor Heraclius in 610, Stephanus moved to Constantinople, the capital of the empire, "thereby bridging late Alexandria and the medieval Byzantine world."[1] Whether he was invited by the emperor is not known. He took up a position as "ecumenical professor" (oikoumenikos didaskalos)[b] at the Imperial Academy teaching Plato, Aristotle, the quadrivium,[c] alchemy and astrology. Among his students were the philosopher known as Pseudo-Elias and Tychicus of Trebizond, the teacher of the Armenian polymath Anania Shirakatsi.[1]

Many works are attributed to Stephanus, some falsely, most written at Constantinople.[1] Agapius of Hierapolis, writing of the treaty between Heraclius and the Persian king Kavad II in 628, states that Stephanus was "famous among the philosophers at that time".[3] Stephanus died sometime before the death of Heraclius in 641.[1] His identification with Stephanus of Athens has been proposed, but is unlikely.[2]

Works edit

1. A commentary on Aristotle. Editions:

  • Commentaria in Aristotelem Graeca ed. consilio et auctoritate Academiae litt. reg. Boruss., Berlin, Bd. XV
  • Ioannes Philoponus de anima, ed. Michael Hayduck, 1897 p. 446-607 (see praef. p. V); Vol. XVIII/3
  • Stephanus de interpretatione, ed. M. Hayduck, 1885 (Vol. XXI/2: Stephanus in artem rhetoricam is by a Byzantine Rhetor Stephanos of the 12th century).

2. A commentary on the Isagogue of Porphyry. Editions:

  • Anton Baumstark, Aristot. b. den Syrern v. 5.-8. Jh., Vol. 1: Syr.-arab. Biographien des Aristot., syr. Kommentare z. Eisag.des Porph., Leipzig 1900, 181-210 (with a translation of the fragments of the commentary of Stephanos).

3. Astronomical and chronological works. Editions:

  • Explanatio per propria exempla commentarii Theonis in tabulas manuales, Ed. Usener, De Stephano Al. p. 38-54 (= Kl. Schriften. III, 295–319).

4. Alchemical works. Scholars are divided as to whether or not these are authentic works of the same Stephen of Alexandria due to the style of writing. The translator, F. Sherwood Taylor accepts them as his.[4] A compendium of alchemical texts including the poem De Chrysopoeia (On how to make gold) is extant in two manuscripts, Venice Cod. Marcianus 299 and Paris BNF 2327.

Editions:

  • De magna et sacra arte, Ed. Julius Ludwig Ideler in Physici et medici Graeci minores II, Berlin 1842 (Reprinted Hakkert, Amsterdam 1963) p. 199-253. (Ideler used a faulty copy of the Marcianus)
  • F. Sherwood Taylor, The alchemical works of S. of Al., in: Ambix, the Journal of the Society for the study of alchemy and early chemistry 1, London 1937, 116–139; 2, 1938, 38-49 (Taylor compared Ideler with the Marcianus and edited lessons 1-3 only; with English translation and commentary).

5. Astrological works.

  • Opusculum apotelesmaticum, Ed. Usener in De Stephano Al. p. 17-32 (= Kl. Schrr. III, 266–289).

6. A horoscope of Muhammad and a prophecy of the rise of Islam attributed to Stephanus is apocryphal. It must date from after 775, since it mentions the Caliph al-Mahdi.[3]

Notes edit

  1. ^ Also Stephanus Alexandrinus, Stephanos Alexandreus, Stephanos of Alexandria, Stephen of Alexandria.
  2. ^ He is also celebrated as an "ecumenical master" in the alchemical tradition.[2]
  3. ^ Arithmetic, geometry, music and astronomy.

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f Keith Dickson (2008), "Stephanos of Alexandria (ca 580? – 640? CE)", in Paul T. Keyser; Georgia L. Irby-Massie (eds.), The Encyclopedia of Ancient Natural Scientists: The Greek Tradition and Its Many Heirs, Routledge, pp. 759–760.
  2. ^ a b Cristina viano (2008), "Stephanos of Alexandria (Alch.) (ca 580 – ca 640 CE)", in Paul T. Keyser; Georgia L. Irby-Massie (eds.), The Encyclopedia of Ancient Natural Scientists: The Greek Tradition and Its Many Heirs, Routledge, pp. 760–761.
  3. ^ a b Robert G. Hoyland (1997), Seeing Islam as Others Saw It: A Survey and Evaluation of Christian, Jewish and Zoroastrian Writings on Early Islam, Darwin Press, pp. 302–305.
  4. ^ Linden, Stanton J. (2003). The Alchemy Reader: from Hermes Trismegistus to Isaac Newton. Cambridge University Press. p. 54.

Further reading edit

Texts:

  • Julius Ludwig Ideler, Physici et medici Graeci minores II, Berlin 1842 (Reprinted by Hakkert, Amsterdam 1963) p. 199-253. Greek text (only) in full online at Google books here
  • F. Sherwood Taylor, "The Alchemical Works of Stephanos of Alexandria", in "Ambix" (1937). Vol. 1, pp. 116–39 doi:10.1179/amb.1937.1.2.116; Vol 2, pp. 39–49. Greek text and facing English translation of 3 of the 9 lectures of the work.

Dictionaries:

  • Albert Ehrhard, Karl Krumbacher: Geschichte der byzantinischen Litteratur von Justinian bis zum Ende des Oströmischen Reiches, 2nd Ed. (1897). Vol. 2 at google books in full, pp. 480f, 614, 621 *, 625, 633. (Vol.1 here).
  • Adolf Lumpe (1995). "Stephanus of Alexandria". In Bautz, Traugott (ed.). Biographisch-Bibliographisches Kirchenlexikon (BBKL) (in German). Vol. 10. Herzberg: Bautz. cols. 1406–1409. ISBN 3-88309-062-X.

Articles and studies:

  • Hermann Usener, De Stephano Alexandrino Bonn (1880)
  • Alb. Jahn, "Chemica graeca ex codicibus Monacensi 112 et Bernensi 579", Revue de Philologie 15 (1891) 101–115. Short intro to his alchemical works.
  • F. Sherwood Taylor, "The Origins of Greek Alchemy", Ambix, I, May 1937, pp. 30–47.
  • Maria Papathanassiou, (1992), "Stephanos von Alexandreia und sein alchemistisches Werk", Ph.D. Thesis, Humboldt Universität zur Berlin, Berlín.
  • Maria Papathanassiou, (1990–1991) "Stephanus of Alexandria: Pharmaceutical notions and cosmology in his alchemical work", "Ambix", nº 37, pp. 121–133; nº 38, p. 112 [addenda].
  • R. Werner Soukup, (1992), "Natur, du himmlische! Die alchemistischen Traktate des Stephanos von Alexandria. Eine Studie zur Alchemie des 7. Jahrhunderts", "Mitteilungen der Österreichischen Gesellschaft für Geschichte der Naturwissenschaften 12, 1992, 1-93
  • Maria Papathanassiou, (1996), "Stephanus of Alexandria: On the structure and date of his alchemical work", in "Medicina nei Secoli 8", 2, pp. 247–266.
  • Wanda Wolska-Conus, "Stéphanos d'Athènes et Stéphanos d'Alexandrie. Essai d'identitification et de biographie," Revue des Études Byzantines 47 (1989), p. 5-89.

January 01, 1970
stephanus, alexandria, greek, Στέφανος, Αλεξανδρεύς, byzantine, philosopher, teacher, besides, philosophy, platonic, tradition, also, wrote, alchemy, astrology, astronomy, last, exponents, alexandrian, academic, tradition, before, islamic, conquest, egypt, con. Stephanus of Alexandria a Greek Stefanos Ale3andreys fl c 580 c 640 was a Byzantine philosopher and teacher who besides philosophy in the Neo Platonic tradition also wrote on alchemy astrology and astronomy He was one of the last exponents of the Alexandrian academic tradition before the Islamic conquest of Egypt 1 Contents 1 Life 2 Works 3 Notes 4 References 5 Further readingLife editStephanus studied at Alexandria probably under Elias He is often named alongside Elias and David as among the Christians of the school of Olympiodorus According to John Moschus he was teaching and writing commentaries in Alexandria in the 580s where he was involved in the controversy over Monophysitism apparently taking positions on both sides John calls him a sophist and philosopher 1 Shortly after the accession of the Emperor Heraclius in 610 Stephanus moved to Constantinople the capital of the empire thereby bridging late Alexandria and the medieval Byzantine world 1 Whether he was invited by the emperor is not known He took up a position as ecumenical professor oikoumenikos didaskalos b at the Imperial Academy teaching Plato Aristotle the quadrivium c alchemy and astrology Among his students were the philosopher known as Pseudo Elias and Tychicus of Trebizond the teacher of the Armenian polymath Anania Shirakatsi 1 Many works are attributed to Stephanus some falsely most written at Constantinople 1 Agapius of Hierapolis writing of the treaty between Heraclius and the Persian king Kavad II in 628 states that Stephanus was famous among the philosophers at that time 3 Stephanus died sometime before the death of Heraclius in 641 1 His identification with Stephanus of Athens has been proposed but is unlikely 2 Works edit1 A commentary on Aristotle Editions Commentaria in Aristotelem Graeca ed consilio et auctoritate Academiae litt reg Boruss Berlin Bd XV Ioannes Philoponus de anima ed Michael Hayduck 1897 p 446 607 see praef p V Vol XVIII 3 Stephanus de interpretatione ed M Hayduck 1885 Vol XXI 2 Stephanus in artem rhetoricam is by a Byzantine Rhetor Stephanos of the 12th century 2 A commentary on the Isagogue of Porphyry Editions Anton Baumstark Aristot b den Syrern v 5 8 Jh Vol 1 Syr arab Biographien des Aristot syr Kommentare z Eisag des Porph Leipzig 1900 181 210 with a translation of the fragments of the commentary of Stephanos 3 Astronomical and chronological works Editions Explanatio per propria exempla commentarii Theonis in tabulas manuales Ed Usener De Stephano Al p 38 54 Kl Schriften III 295 319 4 Alchemical works Scholars are divided as to whether or not these are authentic works of the same Stephen of Alexandria due to the style of writing The translator F Sherwood Taylor accepts them as his 4 A compendium of alchemical texts including the poem De Chrysopoeia On how to make gold is extant in two manuscripts Venice Cod Marcianus 299 and Paris BNF 2327 Editions De magna et sacra arte Ed Julius Ludwig Ideler in Physici et medici Graeci minores II Berlin 1842 Reprinted Hakkert Amsterdam 1963 p 199 253 Ideler used a faulty copy of the Marcianus F Sherwood Taylor The alchemical works of S of Al in Ambix the Journal of the Society for the study of alchemy and early chemistry 1 London 1937 116 139 2 1938 38 49 Taylor compared Ideler with the Marcianus and edited lessons 1 3 only with English translation and commentary 5 Astrological works Opusculum apotelesmaticum Ed Usener in De Stephano Al p 17 32 Kl Schrr III 266 289 6 A horoscope of Muhammad and a prophecy of the rise of Islam attributed to Stephanus is apocryphal It must date from after 775 since it mentions the Caliph al Mahdi 3 Notes edit Also Stephanus Alexandrinus Stephanos Alexandreus Stephanos of Alexandria Stephen of Alexandria He is also celebrated as an ecumenical master in the alchemical tradition 2 Arithmetic geometry music and astronomy References edit a b c d e f Keith Dickson 2008 Stephanos of Alexandria ca 580 640 CE in Paul T Keyser Georgia L Irby Massie eds The Encyclopedia of Ancient Natural Scientists The Greek Tradition and Its Many Heirs Routledge pp 759 760 a b Cristina viano 2008 Stephanos of Alexandria Alch ca 580 ca 640 CE in Paul T Keyser Georgia L Irby Massie eds The Encyclopedia of Ancient Natural Scientists The Greek Tradition and Its Many Heirs Routledge pp 760 761 a b Robert G Hoyland 1997 Seeing Islam as Others Saw It A Survey and Evaluation of Christian Jewish and Zoroastrian Writings on Early Islam Darwin Press pp 302 305 Linden Stanton J 2003 The Alchemy Reader from Hermes Trismegistus to Isaac Newton Cambridge University Press p 54 Further reading editTexts Julius Ludwig Ideler Physici et medici Graeci minores II Berlin 1842 Reprinted by Hakkert Amsterdam 1963 p 199 253 Greek text only in full online at Google books here F Sherwood Taylor The Alchemical Works of Stephanos of Alexandria in Ambix 1937 Vol 1 pp 116 39 doi 10 1179 amb 1937 1 2 116 Vol 2 pp 39 49 Greek text and facing English translation of 3 of the 9 lectures of the work Dictionaries Albert Ehrhard Karl Krumbacher Geschichte der byzantinischen Litteratur von Justinian bis zum Ende des Ostromischen Reiches 2nd Ed 1897 Vol 2 at google books in full pp 480f 614 621 625 633 Vol 1 here Adolf Lumpe 1995 Stephanus of Alexandria In Bautz Traugott ed Biographisch Bibliographisches Kirchenlexikon BBKL in German Vol 10 Herzberg Bautz cols 1406 1409 ISBN 3 88309 062 X Articles and studies Hermann Usener De Stephano Alexandrino Bonn 1880 Alb Jahn Chemica graeca ex codicibus Monacensi 112 et Bernensi 579 Revue de Philologie 15 1891 101 115 Short intro to his alchemical works F Sherwood Taylor The Origins of Greek Alchemy Ambix I May 1937 pp 30 47 Maria Papathanassiou 1992 Stephanos von Alexandreia und sein alchemistisches Werk Ph D Thesis Humboldt Universitat zur Berlin Berlin Maria Papathanassiou 1990 1991 Stephanus of Alexandria Pharmaceutical notions and cosmology in his alchemical work Ambix nº 37 pp 121 133 nº 38 p 112 addenda R Werner Soukup 1992 Natur du himmlische Die alchemistischen Traktate des Stephanos von Alexandria Eine Studie zur Alchemie des 7 Jahrhunderts Mitteilungen der Osterreichischen Gesellschaft fur Geschichte der Naturwissenschaften 12 1992 1 93 Maria Papathanassiou 1996 Stephanus of Alexandria On the structure and date of his alchemical work in Medicina nei Secoli 8 2 pp 247 266 Wanda Wolska Conus Stephanos d Athenes et Stephanos d Alexandrie Essai d identitification et de biographie Revue des Etudes Byzantines 47 1989 p 5 89 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Stephanus of Alexandria amp oldid 1220948886, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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